Trichy: Two days after a Times of India report highlighted the dysfunctional traffic signals at Mannarpuram intersection, authorities have swung into action, repairing and restoring the signals at one of the city’s busiest junctions.
According to the June 16 report, traffic signals at Mannarpuram had been frequently malfunctioning for months and were often completely defunct or removed. This forced vehicles to depend solely on the roundabout’s circulatory system, resulting in chaotic and unregulated traffic movement from all directions.
City police commissioner N Kamini told TOI that rapid repair work is underway. “We are repairing the poles and the signal lights one by one. Soon, all of the signals in Mannarpuram will function properly,” she said.
Mannarpuram serves as a critical junction linking National Highway 83, Madurai Main Road, and Race Course Road. It connects key residential and commercial areas including Karumandapam, KK Nagar, Khajamalai, and TVS Tollgate. Although designed as a roundabout, the junction heavily relies on functional traffic signals to manage the heavy flow of vehicles. The situation had worsened following the relocation of the Trichy main bus station from Central Bus Stand to Kalaignar Karunanidhi Integrated Bus Terminus in Panjapur last year. Many passengers alight at Mannarpuram and jaywalk across the busy roads to catch connecting buses, raising serious safety concerns due to the lack of proper traffic regulation.
Commuters, activists and local residents have expressed relief at the response from the authorities. However, many want the administration to extend similar repair works to other dysfunctional traffic signals in the city to prevent accidents and ease daily congestion.
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